Stores
All the places to find your funny books.

Forum
Comics, Comics, We all love Comics.

Reviews
Glorifications & Executions of the latest issues.

Fanboy Art
Put your penciling on display. Risk kicking ass or sucking it.

Order
Track down those hard to find comics from yesteryear.

Calendar
A comics related calendar. Covers release dates, conventions etc.

Ultimate X-Men #41

Creative Team: Brian Michael Bendis, David Finch, Art Thibert
Publisher: Marvel

Reviewed by Chris Ching

Whoa! Acutally, make that a Double Keanu Whoa! with a Twist, because this issue is one of those comics you won't soon forget.

It's a different take on the archetypal "X-Men Acquire New Member" theme. Here's the usual deal: X-Men discover confused and self-destructive mutant who is having difficulties adjusting to their emerging powers and the social stigma of being a "mutie". The X-Men offer sanctuary and support. The troubled mutant joins Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters and gets a cool code name, costume, and Danger Room sessions with Cyclops.

Not this time.

The story opens with a regular teenage boy getting up for school on an regular day. There's a bad song on the alarm clock; the bedroom floor is cold to the touch. He'd rather go back to sleep for a tleast another hour and a half. This morning will be different though. This kid's mutant powers have struck and they've struck hard. Radiating toxins and acid like posions within a deadly radius, his power vaporizes all organic mass. Hello Puberty.

Writing another classic in his career making run with Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Spiderman, Brian Michael Bendis has fashioned a story that resonated with me just as strongly as the death of Jean Grey (the first Phoenix Jean Grey that is). He does so without the use of the long witty dialogue he is known for, but through a very spartan "every single word counts" approach. In fact, many pages go by without any pop of a word balloon. In this absence, the storytelling rests on artists Finch and Thibert, and their captivating artwork rises to the challenge. A harrowing center spread convincingly depicts a young mutant's power gone tragically out of control.

In describing movies like Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark, critic Roger Ebert referred to a "good movie" phenomenon he experiences where he completely forgets he's in a theatre watching a film. So immersed in the world the movie has created, he has no recollection of time or place- all there are are the images and sounds before him. The same type of thing thing will happen to you with this comic. It's that good.

Rating: (4 out of 4 stars)